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Arriving at the pub of a Friday evening is always something of a step into the unknown. Granted, the pub is where it's always been, the name hasn't changed and the decor's much the same. In fact, the Livingston Inn has been serving up pints of ale and hearty sustenance to thirsty wayfarers for over 250 years.
No, what makes it a unique experience each time is scanning the beer-fonts to see what this week's guest ale will be. On Friday past, it was Adnams Broadside which, by an uncanny coincidence, is the beer I'm reviewing today. Spooky, or what?

Adnams, a family business, has been brewing beer at The Sole Bay Brewery in the Suffolk town of Southwold since 1857, although the site has been used for brewing for much longer than that - since the late 14th century, in fact. They brew a range of ales including: Fisherman, Regatta, Tally Ho and -

- Broadside was first brewed back in 1972 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the battle of Sole Bay in ... um, well .... 1672. The name is linked to the firing of a 'broadside' of grapeshot at the Dutch ships in that battle.

Adnams Broadside contains two malts - Maris Otter Pale and Caramel, and two hop varieties - Goldings and Fuggles.

THEY SAY:
" Broadside is rich, with aromas of almonds, zest and conserved fruit, and a perfect balance of malt and hop flavours - an award-winning* pint to savour."

* Gold Medal Winner in the Strong Bitter Category at the CAMRA Champion Beer Of Britain 2003.


Broadside pours a clear, amber-red colour with a relatively creamy, quite frothy, off-white head that lasts to the bottom of the pint and laces the glass copiously.
It has a somewhat fruity aroma, mostly citrus-like, but also a hefty dollop of vine-fruit. It's a touch spicy, and has a malty, bready, fruitcake aroma. There's also a faint floral note.

It's extremely smooth, with a rich and creamy mouthfeel. The taste is rich and malty, with a trace of cinnamon-like spice in the background. The malt also gives a nutty quality to the flavour and a hint of sweet caramel. There's not a lot of hop flavour - just a gentle bitterness that keeps the beer well-balanced. There's a slight, cherry-like tart fruitiness which leads into long and lingering, dry-ish finish which, paradoxically, is at once deeply satisfying yet still leaves you thirsting for another pint.



At 4.7% ABV, this is a classic session ale. It's a beer I've had a few times and it's consistently been good - something that can't always be said.
The flavours are quite subtle, it's not an overpowering taste at all. That's not to say it's bland.....heck no, It's just that the flavour doesn't slap you across the face and scream HOPS-n-MALT in your 'lug-hole' (ear). Of course, this means that it's deceptively easy to drink and, as the ABV is relatively high for a session ale, consumption may lead to a temporary loss of brain/mouth co-ordination. Obviously, not for me. My case, I'm afraid, is permanent.

As for food pairings, me and Big Al shared a packet of 'Four Cheese -n- Red Onion' flavoured crisps (chips). Bet you don't get them stateside. The delicate flavours of the Gouda married to the stronger Parmesan, and balanced by the Cheddar and Red Leicester didn't go well with the beer at all. But then, the crisps were pure gantin' (not overly pleasant).


There's also a stronger version of this beer available in bottled form which weighs in at a respectable 6.3% ABV. I haven't tried that as yet, but it's early days.

Would I drink it again? - Too blasted right, I would.

Learn more about this author, Andrew H Brown.
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